Pac-12 has a chance to dominate the 2023 Heisman Trophy ceremony

The Pac-12 Conference might be dying, but it could really go out in style this year. One reason the Pac-12 could have a banner year is that there are so many Heisman Trophy candidates in play for the conference. It’s only one week, but if you look around the larger landscape of college football, you will see that there are several legitimate contenders for the award. If they all play really well, it will be hard for Heisman contenders from other conferences to emerge and displace them.

Of course it’s only one week, and of course USC and Oregon played cupcake opponents this past weekend, but Pac-12 players, particularly quarterbacks, are certainly in position to have big years and make Heisman statements.

Let’s go through the main Pac-12 Heisman contenders and mention a few other national Heisman candidates who might get in their way in New York City this December:

BO NIX

Bo Nix and Oregon put up 81 points on Portland State. Cupcake? Sure. Still, it looked dazzling and showed that Nix probably won’t have problems this year without his 2022 offensive coordinator, Kenny Dillingham, who is at Arizona State.

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MICHAEL PENIX

Washington put 56 points on the board against Boise State, which is not a cupcake opponent. Penix could certainly put up the kinds of numbers which could get him a ticket to the Downtown Athletic Club.

TRAVIS HUNTER, COLORADO

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SHEDEUR SANDERS

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ZACHARIAH BRANCH

No, he’s not a top-tier contender just yet, but Branch has already made numerous spectacular plays this season at USC. If he plays big and posts awesome numbers against Notre Dame and Utah, he will enter November with a real shot at the Heisman, even with the other guy on his team.

You know, the other guy. The guy who won the Heisman last year …

CALEB WILLIAMS

Caleb Williams looks like Caleb Williams. If he keeps playing like Caleb Williams, he’ll be a Heisman finalist, period.

NON-PAC-12 HEISMAN CANDIDATES: JORDAN TRAVIS

Jordan Travis presided over a Florida State offense which thrived in the second half of a beatdown against LSU. If he leads Florida State to the College Football Playoff — and many people would bet on that happening right now — he’ll be in very good position for a Heisman finalist berth.

JALEN MILROE

If Milroe turns out to be the answer for Alabama at quarterback, and he leads the Tide to the playoff, he’ll get a long look for Heisman consideration.

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DILLON GABRIEL

Is Oklahoma back? Maybe. If Dillon Gabriel leads the Sooners to a 12-1 record, chances are he’ll make it to New York.

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QUINN EWERS

Ewers wasn’t great in Week 1 versus Rice, but if he plays great and leads Texas to a win over Alabama this weekend, he’ll vault to the front of the Heisman pack.

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JOE MILTON

Tennessee will get its big shots against Alabama and Georgia. If Milton can rise to the moment, he will be in the center of the Heisman conversation.

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Story originally appeared on Trojans Wire